8 Yamaha R15 in Moto GP Colors could come to India..!!

A limited edition R15 in Moto GP colors have appeared in Colombia.. India should be the next logical step

The other day I saw a dude on the street on his R15. Initially the bike appeared like a white color R15, but on a closer look it became clear that the dude had actually custom painted his R15 in colors to mimic the YZR-M1 that Valentino Rossi rides in Moto GP for Yamaha.

The obvious Rossi "bhakth" was honest enough to paint 46 on the front and the rear of the bike and even had gone the extra mile to put even FIAT logo on the fairing.

..the R15 has already made to Colombia in Moto GP Colors

Even before sighting the above mentioned customized R15 in Moto GP colors, I was pretty sure that Yamaha India would launch the R15 in Moto its GP colors. After its "Yamaha Racing colors" and the "White Color" for the R15, an R15 in "Moto GP colors" obviously is the logical next "colorful" offering from Yamaha.

8 Yamaha SS125, New bike(?)

Yamaha SS125, it is a new bike or just a Gladiator 125 in new colors?

There has been no official announcement about this one, but a couple of days back a new (?) model appeared on Yamaha India's website.

Named as "SS125", this bike appears just as the 125 cc Gladiator in new colors. But a closer look at the product portfolio of Yamaha India on its website reveals that this particular model has been given an all together new name and branding.

Both the "SS125" and the "Gladiator Type SS/RS" are presented as different models on Yamaha India website. By the way the earlier "Gladiator Graffiti" model has been removed from the website.

Phew..!! one will definitely go bonkers keeping record of the changes.

But the question is does this "SS125" deserve an altogether new branding separate from the Gladiator brand? That too when it looks exactly like the Gladiator?

16 2010 Hero Honda CD Deluxe & CD Dawn

Hero Honda gives the CD Deluxe and CD Dawn slight make up for 2010..

The "Splendor", which is priced above the CD Deluxe, still doesn't have "Self Start" and the CD Deluxe has it..

The news about "refreshed" 2010 CD Deluxe and CD dawn models was around since the beginning of this year. But the Hero Honda website did not show the changes till a couple of days back.

Posted below are the images of the 2010 Hero Honda CD Deluxe and CD Dawn models. The changes is mostly limited to "new stickers" and a "matt back finish" silencer. The CD Dawn does get a 2 way pre-load adjustable rear shock absorbers.

"Self Start" ("Power Start" in Hero Honda Lingo) is a feature which was already present in the older CD Deluxe as an option. The current price list in the Hero Honda website doesn't show the price for a "kick start only" model.. but at the same time the tech specs does show the kerb weight of a separate "kick only" model.

So is there a separate "kick start" CD Deluxe model? Or is the "self start" now a standard feature?
I am confused.

3 TVS Apache RTR Upgrade coming soon

TVS Apache RTR Upgrades to be launched soon..

According to recent discussion at xBhp.com, TVS is preparing upgrades for its Apache RTR series of bikes. Probably code named as "Hyper edge", the upgrades are slated for a (probable) September 2010 launch.

One of the members of xBhp.Com got in touch with a manager from TVS. Not much information has been communicated back, just the following are known about the upgrade so far.

1. Some kind of upgrade is definitely planned for the Apache RTR series

2. The launch would be in a couple of months time

19 Marriage, Motorcycles and Blogging do not mix well

Marriage and Motorcycles do not mix..

Before I got married, I definitely had this premonition, and after 2 years of conjugal life, it has sadly come true (at least in my case).

Before marriage

Mine was a long distance relationship; therefore prior to marriage I never got the opportunity to test out whether my wife could also share my enthusiasm for motorcycles.

Like most people, even I had this romantic image of a Boyfriend and Girlfriend duo riding into the sunset of a motorcycle. Maybe the romantic image is not just an illusion created by motorcycle manufacturers; maybe young couples do enjoy riding on a motorcycle as it gives them the freedom to be close to each other without offending the moral police.

But like I said, I never got the opportunity to take my better half out for a motorcycle ride before our marriage.

After marriage